Running-gear for vehicles



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. vH. E. OLMSTEAD. RUNNING GEAR FOR VEHICLES. No. 406,298. Patented July 2, 1889.

WYZ/VESSES (No Model.) -2 Sheets-Sheet 2. H. E. OLMSTEAD.

RUNNING GEAR FOR VEHICLES.

N0. 406,298. Patented July 2, 1889.

w 1 2 f. fl

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIC HOMER E. OLMSTEAD, OF DECATUR, MICHIGAN.

RUNNING-GEAR FOR VEHICLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 406,298, dated July 2, 1889.

Application filed February 6, 1889 To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HOMER E. OLMSTEAD, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Decatur, in the county of Van Buren and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Running-Gear for Vehicles; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which- Figure 1 is a perspective View of my improved running-gear. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view on line {23 00, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-section on line n y, Fig. 2, at right angles to the view shown in Fig. 3; and Fig. 5is a cross-section on line .2 z in Fig. at.

Like letters of reference denote corresponding parts in all the figures.

This invention has relation to the runninggear of four-wheeled vehicles, and has for its object to strengthen the construction of the same and render it more durable; also, to facilitate turning of the vehicle on short curves, and, furthermore, to prevent the tongue or pole from whipping sidewise when one of the front wheels strikes an obstruction in the road.

To these several ends my invention consists in the improved construction and combination of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

Referencebeing had to the accompanying two sheets of drawings, the letter A designates the front axle, B the hind axle, and O the tongue or pole. The thimbles D of the front axle are cast with raised bearings E, which support the sand-bar F, so as to leave a narrow space 1) between the under side of the sand-bar and the upper side of the axle. These bearings E E have their sides grooved or recessed, as shown at e, to receive bolts G G, one on each side, whereby the sand-bar is clipped upon the axle, and which said bolts also form means of attachment for the rearwardly extending hound plates H and H. These plates or bars, as will be seen from the drawings, are of a V shape, the diverging $erial No. 298,889- (No model.)

ends of the upper plate H being firmly fastened upon and at opposite ends of the front sand-bar, while the diverging ends of the lower plate H are correspondingly secured upon the under side of the axle, one at each end, the ends of both plates being firmly secured in their proper positions by the clipbolts G, which, as we have seen, also serve to connect the sand-bar to the front axle.

The reach (shown at I) is fastened to the rear axle in any desired manner, and is braced thereto by the usual hounds J; but the forward end of the reach, instead of being coupled to the front axle, as usual, projects through the slot or narrow space 1) between the front axle and its sand-bar. .To avoid undue wear of these parts, and also for the purpose of reducing friction to a minimum, the under side of the sand-bar and the upper side of the axle may be protected by metallic chafing-plates f and a, while the projecting forward end of the reach, if made of Wood, may be sheathed by a metallic tip 2'. That part of the reach which projects between the apex of the two coinciding hound-plates H and H is coupled thereto by a bolt K, which therefore takes the place of the usual king-bolt in runninggear, as ordinarily constructed.

The front bolster L is swiveled upon the front sand-bar by a bolt M, in the usual manner, which does not, however, project down into the slot 6 below the sand-bar, but is cut off flush with the under side of the latter, so as not to impede free motion of the forward end of the reach in its slot or bearing. The hind bolster N is swiveled upon the rear sandbar by another bolt 0, which, if desired, may also form .the means of attachment of the rear end of the reach to the hind axle.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings, the operation and advantages of my improved running-gear will be understood at a glance. It will be seen that the wagon may be turned on a very short curve; also, that as the draft or pull on the back part of the wagon is at a point K, a 0011- siderable distance back of the front axle, the tongue will not whip sidewise and strike the team when the wheels happen to strike a stone, stump, or other obstruction. Again, by fastening the sand-bar upon the front axle in reach passing through the space between the sand-bar and axle, and the hound-plates connecting the sand-bar and axle with the reach, all arranged substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have l'iereunto al'l'ixed my signature 20 in presence of two witnesses.

HOMER E. OLMSTEAD. Witnesses:

ALVIN BENNETT, OsA ll. MoDALE. 

